Telegraphone



July 6, 1937. c. N. HlcKMAN ET AL TELEGRAPHONE Filed Oct. 7, 1936 5Sheets-Sheet l ,aA/.H/c/MAN NVENTORS-REMALL/NA ATTORNEY July 6, 1937.

C. N. HICKMAN ET AL TELEGRAPHONE Filed Oct. '7, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2SMM ATTORNEY m NVENTOR' REMALL/NA Jima@ MQ v No n@ ma E n Mm.

.A Y v a. NM Q ww IIWM Mv QQ a S July 6, 1937.

c, N. HICKMAN ET A1.

TELEGRAPHONE Filed Oct. '7, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 c. N. H/CKMANNVENTO'RFMALL/NA A TTORNEV Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENTori-"1ct:

TELEGRAPHONE Application October 7,

14 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to sound recording and reproducingapparatus and particularly to apparatus of the magnetic type commonlyreferred to as the telegraphone, that is, apparatus in which the recordis impressed into a magnetic wire or tape as variations in themagnetization thereof.

It is the object of this invention to provide a compact, readilyoperable and rugged telegraphone which may be used for dictation,message recording and other purposes.

A feature of this invention is a means for rapidly threading a magneticwire or tape through the machine.

Another feature isa push-button control system for a telegraphone bymeans of which the various operations normally required to be performedare initiated and terminated.

In its preferred form this invention comprises a small box or container,comparable in size to the average dictation machine, containingelectromagnets for recording, reproducing and erasing sound controlledelectrical currents in a magnetic tape. Supply and take-up reels areprovided for the-tape, and the reels are driven by means of clutcheswhich in turn are driven from a continuously operating electric motor. Amechanical, tape-operated indicator is used to indicate the quantity oftape on a reel and means, operated by the indicator, are provided forstopping the machine when a reel is full. 'I'he recording system used ispreferably that disclosed' in Hickman Patent 1,944,238, dated January23, i934, and comprises in general transversely magnetizing a thinribbon or tape of magnetic material which has previously beenconditioned by an erasing and polarizing magnet. The magnets arepreferably made with removable pole-pieces between which the tape ispassed. The polepieces are separated during the threading and rewindingoperation. Guides are provided for the tape which automatically directthe tape upon the take-up reel, and automatic means are provided on thetake-up reel for gripping the tape and pulling it through the machine.The operations performed by the machine are record, reproduce, rewind,thread and stop, and each of these operations is controlled by a singlebutton. By the term button is meant any mechanical device capable ofrectilinear or curvilinear motion. Thus, pull rods and levers may beused as well as push-buttons.

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent fromthe detailed de- 1 936, Serial No. 104,384

scription which follows taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of themachine;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the machine with the front panel removed;

Fig. 3 is an elevation in section taken through the center ofthe take-upreel;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation in section taken likewise through the centerof the take-up reel; Fig. 5 is a section taken through the wipers forthe tape;

Fig. 6 shows the means for separating the polepieces.

Figure 7 is a section taken through some of the operating controlmembers.

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the circuit connections. I

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, I0 is a housing or container, preferablymade of metal, across the top of which is a panel II upon which theapparatus is mounted. The supply reel is shown at I2 and the take-upreel at I3. The supply reel I2 may take the form of a double reel, thatis, one reel mounted within another, the inner reel being freeto rotatewith respect to the outer. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the outer reel I4is provided with a number of pins I5 around the periphery thereof andconnecting side walls I1 and I8. The purpose of thisconstruction is toprovide a retaining means for the end of the tape when the reel isremoved from the machine. Without a retaining means the end of the tapehas a tendency to unwind from the reel and leave a' loose end which maybecome snarled and occasion a loss of time when next the tape is used.

Take-up reel I3 is preferably formed Without a solid core around whichto wind the tape, but is supplied instead with a number of pins I9forming in effect a squirrel cage.. This construction is used to assistthe end of the tape in binding upon the reel so that sufficient tractiveforce may be developed by the reel to pull the tape continuously throughthe magnets. When the tape is inserted into the reel it passes betweentwo or more of the pins, and as the reel is rotated, the end is bent intwo places as at 20 and 2| and carried around with the reel until thesecond layer pinches the first and firmly secures it to the reel. Thistype of reel eliminates hunting for a catch such as is generally usedand also offers no resistance to the removal of the end of the tape fromthe reel in rewinding.

The soundtranslating units are located between supply reel I2 andtake-up reel I3 and are encased in a housing 22, the greater portion ofwhich is shown removed in order to disclose the electromagnets. Thepolarizing or erasing unit is shown at 22 and the recording andreproducing unit at 24. 'Ihese units are similar in appearance and eachis comprised of coils 25 and 28 and retractile pole-pieces 21 and 28 theaxes o'f which lie on the same straight line.

'I'he driving mechanism for the reels is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A motor23, preferably electric, drives a pulley 28 which'` is connectedby meansof belt 2| to a second pulley 22. Supply reel l2 is secured to driveyshaft 22 about which pulley 22 is free to revolve. The inner face 24 ofpulley 32 is fashioned into a conical surface to form the driving memberof a cone clutch. The driven member of the clutch is comprised of awheel 25 likewise free to rotate about shaft 23 and containing a conicalsurface 38 into which a conical.

ring 21 of frictional material is set. The driving action is transmittedto shaft 22 through a spring 28 which contacts the side of clutch member25 frictionally and is rigidly secured to shaft 22. The clutch isoperated by lowering pulley 22.

Take-up reel I3 is likewise mounted on a shaft 29 which is driventhrough a spring 424 from driven member 4I of a coneclutch, the drivingmember of which 42 is a pulley driven by a belt 43 from a smaller pulley44 secured to or forming an integral part of pulley 22. A brake'45 isprovided for the driven member 4| of clutch 42 to prevent the momentumof driven member 4| and its associated parts from continuing to rotatethe reel after a rewinding operation and thereby cause a pile-up of tapebetween the supply and take-up reels. 'I'he brake is operated by therelease of push-buttons to be described later.

Each driving pulley is provided with a sleeve 48, 41 respectivelycarrying a flange 4 8, 49 respectively upon the upper end thereof.Against each flange is placed a collar 50, 5I which is separated from asecond collar 52, 52 by means of ball bearings. An operating lever 54 isadapted to bear against collar 52 and thereby raise pulley 22 todlsengage it from driven member 25 of the clutch. In a similar manner alever; 55 is adapted to bear against collar 53 to raise pulley 42 `fromdriven member 4I of the clutch.

'Ihe driving mechanism for the reel, therefore, is comprised of acontinuously rotating drive system, the power from which isderived bymeans of friction clutches. 'I'he springs 38 and 42 serve to absorbexcess torque in the drive and thereby protect the tape from unduestress. Each clutch is operated by simply raising or lowering one memberof the clutch.

'I'he details of the magnets are shown in Fig. 6. Coils 25 and 25 aremounted on a bakelite or other non-magnetic support 55 and are aperturedto receive close fitting cores 21. and 28, respectively..

The tape, or the magnetic material upon which the magnetic record is tobe made, passes between pole-pieces 2 1 and 28 through an aperture 59 insupport 58. For ease in threading tape 51 through the machinepole-pieces 21 and 28 are made retractile, that is, they are separableto increase the spacing therebetween. Their outer ends, however, areconnected by means of a U-shaped spring 80 which normally presses thetwo together, but which when iiexed in the center as at 5I increases thedistance between its outer ends and thereby withdraws pole-pieces 21 and28. The flexing is accomplished by a lever 52 pivoted at 53 and operatedthrough a system of levers from control buttons to be describedhereinafter.

Before the tape reaches the electromagnet, it is cleaned by a pair ofwipers. These wipers are shown in Fig. 5 and are comprised of a pair of.felt, or other soft material. pads 84 and 85 mounted on spring members88 and 81, respectively. A pin 88 having a conical tip 89 may be made tobear against projections 10 and 1| on spring members 88 and 51,respectively and thereby separate pads 84 and 55. A spring 12 normallybiases pin 88 away from projections 18 and 1| and a lever 13 may be usedto push tip 59 against projections 18 and 1I to separate the pads.

The threading means for the tape comprises pressure rollers for urgingthe tape between the Isound translating electromagnets, suitable guidesthroughout the distance between reels. and the starting means on reel I2previously described. As shown on Figs. 1 and 2 a relatively largeroller 14 having a knurled knob 15 cooperates with roller 18 which issecured to a pivoted member 11. Roller 18 is biased against roller 14 byspring 18 secured to extremity 19 of pivoted member 11 and to a verticalportion of the pivoted member 88. An upper guide 8| and a lower guide 82are provided to insure the entrance of the tape into the recording unitat the proper level. Lateral guide 82 assists the tape in entering thepolarizing unit, guide 84 assists the tape in entering the recording andreproducing unit, guide 85 directs the tape out of housing 22 and guide88 directs'the tape upon reel I3. An additional guide, such as acircular leaf spring, may be used to bend the tape around the reel.

v'I'he description thus far has been concerned chiey with the componentsof the machine and the details of their operation. 'I'he operation ofeach component, however, must be coordinated with the operation of everyother component and to this end a system of interconnecting levers isused. 'I'he operation of these levers, however, is quite simple and maybe controlled by a relatively small number of push-buttons. In themachine shown, five such buttons are used. 'Ihese buttons areconveniently mounted in one corner of the machine and perform not onlymechanical operations, but electrical switching operations as well sincethey are likewise connected to prongs of electrical switches. in ahousing 81 and are adapted to perform from left to right the operationsof recording, reproducing, rewinding and stop. Button 88 is used toclose rollers 18 and 14 and to separate wipers 54 and 85 and thepole-pieces of the polarizing and reproducing magnets. It does notperform any electrical functions.

To record, it is recalled that clutch 42 must be'operated to rotate reelI3. The record button is, therefore, provided with an extension 82 whichbears against extension 98 of lever 55 which is pivoted at 9|, and sincelever 55 is the one which raises and lowers pulley 42, the operation ofthe clutch is thus controlled by the record button. Since the same reelis operated for reproducing and recording, it is merely necessary to addan extension 92 to lever 55 so'that extension 93 of the reproducingpush-button may cooperate therewith. A separate button must be used,howeverbecause of the difference in the electrical connections to bemade when reproducing. To rewind, the power must be applied tothesupplyreel and removed from the take-up reel. It is also necessary toconnect lever 54, which operates pulley 32 of the rewind clutch, totherewind button. These operations are performed by means of two levers 94and The switches are encased Y ated by extension 91 of the rewindbutton. Thus,

depressing rewind button causes the opposite end of lever 94 to beraised, which in turn causes the opposite end, that is, the'operatingend, of lever 54 to be depressed and-thereby engage clutch member 35 ofthe rewind pulley.

'I'he record, reproduce and rewind buttons are all connected by means ofa latch bar 98 which is operated by the stop button. Since the clutchesare disengaged when the record, re-

produce and rewind buttons are raised, and

since these buttons are biased to the raised po- A, sitions by means ofsuitable springs to stop the machine it is necessary merely to operatethe latch to release whichever button is depressed. 'Ihe brake 45 issecured to a brake operating lever 99 which is pivoted at |00 andbiasedupward by spring |0| (Fig. 4). Adjustable screws |02, |03 and |04 causethe lever to bear against levers 55 and 94, that is, the levers operatedby the record, reproduce and rewind buttons. Thus when either therecord, rewind or reproduce button is depressed, lever 99 is likewisedepressed and the brake shoes 45 are removed from the clutch. Wheneither of these buttons is released, however, lever 99 is raised and thefriction brake is immediately applied.

In order to rewind, the pole-pieces, wipers and starting rollers must beseparated so that the least possible friction is presented to the tapeas it is being rewound. This is particularly desirable since the rewindspeed is much greater than the record or reproduce speed. In order tothread the tape onto the take-up reel in starting, however, thepole-pieces and wipers must be separated and the starting rollers 14 and16 must be pressed together. Accordingly, separate controls must beprovided for threading and for rewinding. To this end, lever 94 operatedby rewind button is provided with an extension |05 which cooperates withlever |06 pivoted at |01 and adapted at its opposite end 13 to operatepin -68 for separating wipers 84 and 65. Lever |06 is also provided withan arm |08 which cooperates with pivoted member |09, the opposite end ofwhich is forked to provide a lever-arm 62 for. each pole-piece spring60. A depending lug ||0 (Fig. 2) is adapted to cooperate with head ofpull rod ||2 so that when rod ||2 is pulled to the right lug ||0 willhave the same effect upon pivoted member |06 as the depressing of rewindbutton, but that when rewind button is depressed, lug ||0 will have noeffect upon pull rod ||2 due to the sliding connection therebetween.When it is desired to operate the rollers as well as the pole-piece andwiper separating mechanism, button 88 is depressed. 'I'his causes bellcrank ||3 to be rotated about its pivot ||4 to pull rod ||5 and thusrotate members 11 and 80 about their common pivot. Members 11 and 80pull rod ||2 and operate the pole-piece and wiper separating mechanismand also force pulley 16 against pulley 14.

The indicator for the take-up reel is comprised of a graduated arc ||6,a pointer ||1 cooperating therewith and pivoted at ||8. The indicator||1 carries a roller ||9 which coopcrates with the tape on the reel andmoves the indicator in accordance with the quantity of tape on the reel.When reel I3 is completely lled, extension |20 of the indicator strikespin |2| and releases the record or reproduce button as the case may be.In order that the tape may vup reel I3 a few inches.

be rewound, however, when the reel is'full, it is necessary to splitrelease bar 98 so that the motion of pin |2| is confined to slot |22without affecting the portion of the release bar cooperating with therewind and stop buttons.

The electrical apparatus used lwith this machine comprises a microphone|21, a receiver |28, switches for effecting the various operations, amotor 29, an amplifler (shown as a block) and a suitable source of powersupply, preferably 110 volt alternating current mains. The circuit isshown schematically in Fig. 8. For recording, microphone |21 isconnected to the input of the amplier and the output of the amplifer isconnected to the recording-reproducing or sound translating magnet coils|29. For reproducing, the output of the sound translating coils isconnected to the input of the ampliiler, and theoutput of the amplifieris connected to the receiver |28. The rewind andstop buttons break thecircuit to the sound translating magnets, and-a separate switch |32turns the motor on and off. A volume control |30 regulates the outputfrom the microphone and a second volume control |3| controls the outputfrom the amplifier.

It has been found that the tape sometimes has decided'bends in it whichcannot be removed by the pressure of the pole-pieces alone. As an addedrefinement, therefore, curved gates |23 and |24 are supplied for eachelectromagnet. These gates are curved oppositely to one another so thatthe impedance to the progress of the tape through the unit is increasedby the reverse curvature and hence the addedpull on the tape occasionedthereby is relied upon to remove the bends. The gates are removable andare heldin place by spring clips |25 and |26.

The operation of the machine is as follows: A supply reel is placed uponshaft 33 and the end of vtape 51 is inserted between rollers 14 and 16.Button 88 is then depressed and knurled knob 15 rotated clockwise tocause the tape to pass' through the guides and electromagnets. Therotation of knurled knob 15 is continued until the end of the tape haspassed through take- The record button is now depressed and the matterto be recorded is spoken into the microphone. At the end of therecording, or to repeat a portion of what has been spoken into themicrophone, the stop button is depressed to release the record button,the rewind button is next depressed in order to back up the tape. Whenthe desired amount of tape has been rewound the stop button is againdepressed, followed by the reproduce button. After all or part of therecorded matter has been reproduced, the record button may again bedepressed to ...continue the recording. At the end of. the recording thetape may be rewound by depressing the rewind button, or if desired, thetake-up reel may be removed and the tape rewound on a separate machine.The stop button is used whenever there is a substantial pause betweenany of the other operations or after the record and reproduceoperations. Motor switch |32 is operated at the beginning and the end ofa complete set of operations, that is, at the time the operator beginsto use the machine and at the time he'has finished with the machine. Theoperation of the motor is indicated by the lighting of a lamp |21located on panel The quantity of tape on take-up reel |3 is continuouslyindicated by indicator ||1 and scale ||6 may be made removable so thatmarkings may be made l graph may be used. Since magnetic material oneand one-hait mils thick is now available. a small reel may containenough tape for eight or ten minutes of operation. The tape may be usedover and over again and hence there is no waste.

l5 The recording and reproducing is done electrically and can,therefore, be controlled much more closely than] in other types ofphonographs. With the improved threading and button control systems themachine is very simple to operate.

It is understood that the foregoing description is merely illustrativeof the invention, and thatthe scope of the invention is not to belimited thereto, but is to be determined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telegraphonic apparatus of the type described, a series of pushbuttons for controlling the operation of the apparatus and a latch barcooperating with said buttons to hold one of said buttons in operativeposition, said latch bar being comprised of two parts, one partcontaining a slot and the other a pin cooperating in the slot, wherebyall of the buttons are released when certain ones are depressed, andonly a portion of the buttons are released when others are depressed. ,Y

2. In a telegraphonic apparatus of the type described, a rewind button,a record button, a reproduce button, a latch bar cooperating with saidrewind, record and reproduce buttons, said latch bar having means forholding the record and reproduce buttons in released position whilepermitting the latching oi the rewind button.

3. In a telegraphonic apparatus of the ytype described, a magnetic tape,a series ot push buttons for controlling the operation of the apparatusincluding a rewind button, a latch bar cooperating with the buttons tohold one in operative position, said latch bar being comprised of twoparts, one part cooperating with the rewind button and containing a slotandthe second part cooperating with one or more of the remaining buttonsand including a pin cooperating with the'slot of the iirst part, andmeans operated by the tape for engaging the pin whereby the buttonscontrolled by the pin portion of the latch bar will be held ininoperative position, while the rewind button may be made effective.

4. In a telegraphonic apparatus of the type described, a magnetic tape,push buttons for controlling the recording, reproducing and rewindingoperations, a latch bar cooperating with the buttons to hold one inoperative position, said latch bar being comprised of two parts, onepart cooperating with the rewind button, the other part cooperating withthe record and reproduce buttons, pin, and slot, connecting meansbetween said bars such thatmovement oi' the pin operates to release therecord and reproduce buttons but not the rewind buttons, and` meansoperated by a. predetermined condition of the tape for engaging the pinwhereby the record and reproduce buttons are held ininoperative'position while the rewind button may be made eiIective.

5. In a telegraphonic apparatus of the type described, 'a clutch, abrake mr the clutch, e1e tromagnets having retractile pole-pieces, and

unitary means for controlling the operation of magnets, and unitarymeans fior controlling the operation of the clutch, brake.' pole-piecesand switch.

'1. In a telegraphonic apparatus of the type described, a magnetic tape,separable wipers for the tape, a clutcha brake for the clutch,electromagnets having retractile pole-pieces, a switch ior controllingthe circuit through the electromagnets, and a plunger for controllingthe operation of the wipers, clutch, brake and pole-pieces.

8. In a telegraphonic apparatus of the type described, a magnetic tape,indi'vidual push buttons for recording upon, reproducing from andrewinding the tape, a reel for the tape, a clutch-operated driving meansfor the reel, and a brake for theclutch. said brake being operable uponthe release o! all of said push buttons.

9. A magnetic tape, electromagnets cooperating with the tape and meansfor insuring the re- Amoval of undesirable bends in the tape, said meanscomprising curved guides, the curvature of one guide being in adirection opposite to that oi' the other guide to increase the tensionon the tape and thereby remove undesirable bends therein.

10. In a telegraphone, a magnetizable tape, electromagnets cooperatingwith the tape, each of said electromagnets including a coil and apole-piece, and means for guiding the tape past the pole-pieces, saidguiding means comprising removable blocks, the guiding face of eachblockbeing curved in a direction opposite to that of the other to removeundesirable bends in the tape.

11. In a magnetic recording machine, a magnetizable tape, a supply reelfor the tape, a takeup reel for the tape, electromagnets between thesupply and take-up reels and means for threading the tape from thesupply reel through the electromagnets and upon the take-up reel, saidmeans comprising normally separated rollers, push button operated meansfor puttingpressure upon the rollers to pinch the tape therebetween,means simultaneously operablev with the rollers for removingobstructions from the path of the tape andguides for the tape to insurethe entrance of the tape upon the reel. 12. In a magnetic recordingmachine, a magnetizable tape, a supply reel for the tape, a takeup reelfor the tape, electromagnets cooperating with the tape, eachelectromagnet comprising opposed pole-pieces, separable wipers for thetape, and means for threading the tape from the supply reel to thetake-up reel, said means comprising a pair of rollers for gripping thetape and feeding it toward the take-up reel, and a unitary controlforseparating the pole-pieces and wipers and for exerting operatingpressure upon the feed rollers.

13. In a phonographic apparatus employing a ribbon as a record carryingmedium, a supply reel for the ribbon, a take-up reel, means for feedingthe ribbon toward the take-up reel and a core in the take-up reelcomprised of spaced members which provide a plurality of openingsthrough the core whereby the end of the ribbon is bent and carriedaround by the rotation of the reel and pinched under the succeedinglayers of the ribbon.

forming a plurality of passageways through the core for the end of thetape whereby the tape is started upon the take-up reel by rotating thefeed 'rollers until the end of the tape extends beyond the core of thetake-up reeland then rotating the take-up reel until the 'end of thetape ispinched by the succeedingV layers.

CLARENCE N. HICKMAN. RUDOLBHAF. MALmNA.

